I have 3 tweens (maybe officially just 2 tweens, but at 9, 10 and just-turned-12, I consider them all tweens). Tweens are changing fast. They are in the beginning of the ‘adolescence’ issues, and many of those changes are kind of weird.
In this house, we’re prepared for puberty. We’re pretty well informed about the processes that happen, the changes that occur, and what it’s all about. These kinds of topics are open for discussion all the time at our house, and they are not taboo or embarrassing for the kiddos, or for us as the parents.
So how come I don’t know the answer to this question:
When is the appropriate age to start shaving?
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I didn’t record my first REAL shaving experience (nevermind the one when I was about 5, in the tub, with my mom’s razor… I’m surprised there’s no scar to show for my efforts there). I have no idea how old I was when I first shaved. If I think hard, I might be able to put it in an age range – somewhere between 10 and 14… yah, that’s helpful.
I know in some cultures the women don’t shave their legs and armpits. But hey, even in Canada, we DO shave those parts, not to mention the guys shaving their facial hair. So it’s a question that is very likely to arise soon at my house with my growing-hairier-by-the-moment tweens.
I can’t even remember if I shaved my armpits BEFORE my legs, or vice versa, or if it was perhaps a synchronized celebration of simultaneous sheering. I simply can’t remember – it must have been a really big deal, eh?!
Since I know the question is coming, I’ve been ever-so-carefully avoiding it until I can think of a good answer, hoping it won’t come up until I’ve thought of something wise and intentional to say thoughtfully preparing for the inevitable and seeking wisdom from my own past experiences. So far, I’m coming up blanks.
And so of course I turn to my faithful blog readers to help me out…
When was the first time you shaved – armpits, legs, or face? (Let’s leave the shaving of back-hair for another discussion…. or not….blech… Also, let’s not discuss any other locations of hair shaving – this is a G-rated blog, folks!)
If you have a particularly wise and intentional response about when you think it’s appropriate to begin shaving, that would also be helpful… maybe. If you have experience with teen-shaving as a mom who has boldly gone where this weird mom hasn’t yet been, please share your insights. The fate of armpit, leg, and chin hairs on young bodies everywhere here in this house depends on your responses!!!! BEFORE I get desperate and start making up goofy weirder-than-usual stuff, you gotta help me out here!
Since I know this isn’t going to be the ONLY tween question of this type that comes up, I’ll number them to keep track. #1 (this one) hopefully won’t be a doozy, but I can sure think of some others that might be.
For now, with my heartfelt thanks in advance, please help me out with this weird tween question: “Mom, when can I shave?”
Hmmm, I'm trying to remember how old I was. I think probably 13ish.
Damaris has been shaving since she was 9 or 10. She had really dark and thick leg hair and it was beginning to embarrass her, especially since she was a year younger than the kids in her grade and many of them were already shaving. For a while, she only shaved about every 3 days, but now it's every day or every other day. In the summer with so many shorts, it's usually every day.
I was 9 when I began shaving my legs (I know this because it was not long after I got my first m-cycle).
If your tween is already curious then show them how you shave your legs and have a safety razor (one of those with the wires so you don't get cut) handy so she can try it out herself. Make sure you explain about which direction to shave and how to lather up etc and then let her go for it.
Through school I mostly just shaved the bottom half of each leg and now a days I don't bother as much as I'm blessed with tiny, superfine, palest blonde (virtually transparent) leg hair.
I was probably a couple years older when I started shaving my pits and still do so regular.
I let my daughter start shaving as soon as the hair started to bug her. I think she was 11.
OK – I was debating on posting this same thing – my daughter asked, and she's 6!!! Yet, she would probably kill me later in life if I did post it… out of embarrassment.
No suggestions, but will watch the replies!
That is a weird one! Sex, Alcohol, the hassards of life, all common and can be prepared for and we think about it before "the talk" but shaving..Hmmm.. I would say age wouldn't really matter all that much. Some people are REALLY hairy and may NEED to start sooner then others. At least that's my opinion. NOT at like 4 years old, but lets be real, kids are social and affected tremendously by their piers. If a 9 year old is bear like hairy, give the kid a razor! Well not a razor but you get the picture.
If a tween is asking because of curiosity, my answer would be "well, when you're hairy enough too and you would rather not be, then you can shave to resolve that."
But if it's because they want to then I'd probably ask why first. Kids are honest and sometimes mean, so I'd find out if it was because of another comment from someone just in case. Self esteem is so fragile, I'd wanna make sure they weren't doing it because of silly things other kids say.
And after all that, I'd say "I would like You to first understand that you won't have any hair after shaving it off and you have to commit to shaving. It's a job you know. After you start shaving, your hair still grows back and a tiny bit thicker then before. It won't be like a gorilla or anything but none the less, a little darker and thicker and you'll need to shave pretty often too since hair grows back fast. Are you ready for that kind of commitment? If so, then I'll show you how because razors are also very sharp and you can cut yourself a bit like tiny paper cuts, so you need to learn how to shave properly and be careful too. If you're really ready for all that, then I will show you how" At least that's what I'd do. 🙂 Good luck! Looking forward to hearing about the results 🙂
Ugh..you mean I'm supposed to shave??? Great, more work 😉
I think I was around 10 when I first did it. But it wasn't constant. I'd say probably 12 or 13 on a daily basis.
Good Luck. I'm still far away from that one, and all boys here. Dad can deal with this one:)